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Light 'switch-off' to save money

Lighting on thousands of miles of motorways, trunk roads and city streets has been turned off or dimmed at night in order to save money and cut carbon emissions, according to an investigation by the Sunday Telegraph.

'Safety concerns' over lighting switch-off

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has admitted concerns over safety following an investigation by the Sunday Telegraph which claims lighting on some motorways, trunk roads and city streets has been turned off or dimmed at night in order to save money and cut carbon emissions.

There are economic and environmental reasons why some organisations may wish to reduce the amount of lighting. However there are safety reasons why lighting needs to be available.

The presence of lighting not only reduces the risk of traffic accidents but also their severity. Surveys have show that the public are in favour of street lighting as a way of improving road safety and that, if anything, it needs to be improved in some areas.